Undergraduate Student Funding

Janet B. Chiang grant

This grant supports student projects with the goal of furthering Asian-American understanding, as well as funding need-based grants for students to study in Asia. Duke undergraduate and graduate students may apply. The award maximum is $2,500. 

Applications for 2027 should be completed online. All materials are due by 11:59PM (Eastern time) on Wednesday, February 24, 2027.

Begin Application

Application requirements

• Proposal (500 words max) addressing your reasons for applying according to the award criteria
• Applicants must include a basic budget (download an excel template) outlining realistic projections for living, travel and project-related costs and include other potential sources of funding (even if an application for funding has not yet been confirmed or approved)
• A letter of recommendation from a faculty member should be submitted through the online application form; faculty will only be able to upload the recommendation once you submit Part I of the online application to APSI

Grant guidelines

Special consideration will be given to projects connected with Asian-American relations, Asian American cultural or legal issues, and women's issues, but any project designed to meet a need and which encourages student leadership initiative will be considered.

Special consideration will also be given to Asian Americans who apply for grants to study in Asia, but all students with a demonstrated interest in the relation of Asian and American cultures are encouraged to apply for this grant.

You can learn more about Janet B. Chiang (Trinity '86) here. 

Research involving human subjects

If the application is associated with a research project involves human subjects, submit evidence that the project has been submitted for Duke Campus IRB review (submit verification if already approved or exempted). Funding will not be released until IRB approval* (or exemption) is obtained.

^{*IRB verification is not required if the application is to support language study.}

Language scholarships

Limited scholarships averaging $2,000 are available to full-time Duke students who plan to pursue further language training in Chinese, Japanese or Korean either in East Asia or at a reputable domestic program.

Priority is given to students at the intermediate level or above with a major or minor in the target language as well as students who are receiving financial aid. Additional considerations include students who 1) wish to continue language study beyond university/departmental language requirements; and 2) articulate a clear understanding of how the specific program they intend to enroll in will help them meet their language proficiency and broader academic goals. Additionally, for students attending study abroad programs in Japan, we prioritize applications to Duke-approved programs (even if the applicant does not intend to apply for Duke credit).

Applications for 2027 should be completed online. All materials are due by 11:59PM (Eastern time) on Wednesday, February 24, 2027.

Begin Application

Application requirements

• A 500-word (max) proposal describing how the specific language program will contribute to the applicant's language proficiency and broader academic goals
• Applicants must include a basic budget (download an excel template) outlining realistic projections for living, travel and project-related costs and include other potential sources of funding (even if an application for funding has not yet been confirmed or approved)

Summer Research Grants

Full-time Duke freshmen, sophomores and juniors may receive up to $2,500 to conduct research in China, Japan, Korea, or Southeast Asia.

Priority will be given to students who 1) will conduct research for a senior thesis; 2) whose projects have a high probability of developing into a senior thesis; and 3) who have done some preliminary work and have arranged affiliations with local institutions for the research.

Applications for 2027 should be completed online. All materials are due by 11:59PM (Eastern time) on Wednesday, February 24, 2027.

Begin application

Application requirements

• A proposal (500 words max) describing the research project, including its rationale, methodology, and timeline. Explain why travel to the region is necessary and describe your connection to local contacts and how you intend to access and assess the data
• Applicants must include a basic budget (download an excel template) outlining realistic projections for living, travel and project-related costs and include other potential sources of funding (even if an application for funding has not yet been confirmed or approved)
• A letter of recommendation from a faculty member should be submitted through the online application form; faculty will only be able to upload the recommendation once you submit Part I of the online application to APSI

Research involving human subjects

If the application is associated with a research project involves human subjects, submit evidence that the project has been submitted for Duke Campus IRB review (submit verification if already approved or exempted). Funding will not be released until IRB approval (or exemption) is obtained.

Sirena WuDunn Memorial Scholarship

On September 1, 1983, Sirena WuDunn, en route to Hong Kong for a year of study, was aboard Korean Airlines flight 007, which was shot down by Soviet fighters. Since then, the WuDunn family has worked with Duke students and administrators to endow a scholarship in honor of her life.

Learn about the legacy of Sirena WuDunn.

The award is not need-based; however, should the recipient be on financial aid, the amount of the scholarship will be used to reduce the self-help portion of the financial aid award.

This is a grant for an academic-year tuition award and cannot be used for summer programs.

Applications for 2027 should be completed online. All materials are due by 11:59PM (Eastern time) on Wednesday, February 24, 2027.

Begin application

Application requirements

• An essay (500 words max) explaining the significance of your involvement in Asian affairs and addressing your reasons for applying according to the scholarship preference criteria
• A letter of recommendation from a faculty member should be submitted through the online application form; faculty will only be able to upload the recommendation once you submit Part I of the online application to APSI

Scholarship criteria

The award is given to the student(s) who best embody the ideals and interests that Sirena held. Preference for the award will be given to students who:

1. Are of Asian ancestry, preferably Chinese American;
2. Have made a valuable contribution in the area of East-West culture; and
3. Have demonstrated academic excellence

Kristina Troost Prize for an undergraduate project in East Asian Studies

This prize honors Dr. Kristina Kade Troost, who had a distinguished career spanning 30 years at Duke. A historian by training, Dr. Troost was Duke’s first Japanese Studies Librarian and headed the International and Area Studies Department in the Library for 20 years. She also served as the much-beloved Director of Graduate Studies for the MA program in East Asian Studies at Duke and continues to be actively involved in the Triangle Forum for Japanese Studies. Through her various roles, Dr. Troost made invaluable contributions to East Asian Studies at Duke and beyond.

The purpose of the Kristina Troost Prize is to recognize the best undergraduate project in East Asian Studies at Duke. The project can be in the form of a substantial paper, visual art, film, or digital production, among others. Students submitting a creative project should include a written discussion of the project's significance.  The prize ($450) will be awarded annually by an APSI faculty committee and given in the spring semester.

To be considered for the prize, submit the following to APSI:

1. a copy of your written project –or– a one-page summary description with viewing links (as applicable) for visual art, film, or other digital production
2. a nomination letter from a faculty member who supervised the project (the nomination should be sent by the faculty member directly to Alex Nickley). 

Applications for projects completed during the 2026-27 academic year will be due no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on April 30, 2027.